After a thrilling debut victory, Dhakshineswar Suresh’s run at the ATP 250 Winston-Salem Open ended with a 3-6, 4-6 loss to 232nd-ranked Learner Tien. Despite serving 9 aces, the 1089th-ranked wildcard struggled to break through Tien’s solid baseline game.
Tien, an 18-year-old left-hander known for his consistency and relentless play, proved to be a tough opponent for Suresh. Tien, who recently enjoyed a 28-match winning streak and earned a wildcard into the US Open Main Draw, displayed the form that has marked him as a rising star.
Suresh’s defeat comes after a remarkable win in the first round of qualifying, where he shocked 337th-ranked Russian Alexey Zakharov in straight sets. The Wake Forest University standout, making his ATP debut, captured attention with his powerful serving and poise under pressure. Despite the loss, Suresh’s performance at Winston-Salem marks a promising start to his professional career.
Photos – Hemant Jadhav